Police-fire bond needs a vote

The price tag for new construction of Salt Lake City's police and fire facilities is a staggering $191 million. Bonds for that would increase property taxes on a $200,000 home in the city by nearly $115 a year, or approximately $286 on a $500,000 home.

This would come on top of other property tax increases Salt Laker voters have approved in recent years for everything from soccer fields to libraries.

But it needs to happen.

Unlike many of the previous voter-approved property tax increases for recreation and arts facilities that help to enhance the city's quality of life — some of which the Deseret Morning News editorial pages have endorsed over the years — public safety is a basic government service. Salt Lake's facilities are simply too small and outdated, so much so that the existing public-safety building at 315 E. 200 South fails to meet the city's fire code. The roof leaks, the parking garage is crumbling and the elevators work only part of the time.

In August, the Salt Lake City Council will decide whether to ask voters to approve the issuance of bonds for construction of these public safety construction projects. The council should vote to place the issue before voters in November.

The package would include a 5-acre headquarters complex to replace the existing public-safety building, built in the mid-1950s. The police department also wants a new east-side precinct building while some of the bond proceeds would be used to expand Fire Station 14 in the Glendale neighborhood, at 1560 S. Industrial Road, which would include new fire-training facilities.

Care should be taken to ensure that the $191 million figure is firm. Within the past year, school districts and municipalities have experienced much higher than anticipated labor and materials costs. In some cases, these governmental entities have had to pare down project lists because of unforeseen price hikes. When voters go to the polls, they should have sufficient confidence that the bonds they authorize will cover all of the planned projects.

It remains to be seen if property owners will cry tax fatigue if they are asked to approve $191 million in bonds for public safety construction projects. But Salt Lake police and fire can make strong cases for this new construction, which not only will enhance their abilities to do their jobs but their interactions with the public, as well.